Portable bag with collapsible compartment

ABSTRACT

A lightweight, portable bag is provided with one primary compartment and at least one secondary compartment. An internal liner material is provided in each of the primary and secondary compartments. Each of the internal liner materials is flexible and collapsible. Therefore, when an item such as a breast pump is inserted into one of the secondary compartments, the secondary compartment would extend into the primary compartment, thereby reducing the volume of the primary compartment and simultaneously increasing the volume of the secondary compartment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application 61/796,286 entitled Collapsible Breast Pump Pocket filed on Nov. 7, 2012, and is incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a portable bag, such as, but not limited to a tote bag or satchel provided with a primary compartment as well as one or more secondary compartments. Access is provided into the secondary compartments through front or side pockets into which various items can be placed, such as, but not limited to breast pumps.

2. Description of the Related Art

Carrying bags, particularly of this soft-sided, lightweight type, have found increasing use in the recent years. The popularity of these bags is partially due to the fact that they may be provided with strategically located separate pockets and other features that allow a user to gain access to the items stored in a primary compartment, as well as secondary compartments. Particularly with respect to airlines increasingly assessing a fee for each checked bag, more and more bags are carried onto the airplane and stored under the passenger's seat or in the overhead carry-on compartments. Consequently, space in the overhead carry-on compartments has become a premium. Therefore, it is important that any carry-on bag is lightweight and capable of storing many items within the bag.

Because of the tendency to store more and diverse articles in these lightweight bags, they have, in some instances become very large and bulky. This is particularly true when items are stored both in a primary interior compartment of the bags, as well as in various pockets allowing access from the outside surface of the bag to secondary compartments.

Since women are encouraged to breast feed their infants, it is important that a woman be able to transport all of the equipment necessary to allow the woman to breast feed, as well as to store the expressed milk in various containers. This is true whether the woman is traveling to work or traveling longer distance by train or by airplane. Particularly when the woman is traveling on an airplane, it is important that the bag have ease of access to the various pockets or compartments allowing the TSA officials to quickly and efficiently review the contents stored within the various compartments of the bag.

Several U.S. patents have issued directed to a backpack or carry-on bag used to carry and store a breast pump, as well as various other items necessary to allow the woman to breastfeed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,167 to Annis shows a backpack used to carry a breast pump in a lower compartment. An upper compartment is used to store breast shields therein. A horizontal shelf is provided in the backpack capable of being removed for access to the breast pump provided in the lower compartment.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,799,638 and 7,150,346 both to Renz et al. discuss systems for the storage of a breast pump in an outer compartment and the storage of bottles and breast shields in an inner compartment.

However, none of these references describe a bag including a primary compartment and a secondary, wherein the primary and secondary compartments are each defined by linings completely independent of one another. Therefore, one an item, such as a breast pump is inserted into the secondary compartment, the volume of the secondary compartment increases as the lining of the secondary compartment expands into the primary compartment. Conversely, when the item is removed from the secondary compartment, the volume of the secondary compartment decreases, and the volume of the primary compartment increases. This is particularly important when the carry-on bag is stored in a confined location, such as the overhead carry-on compartment provided on an airplane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art by providing a portable bag into which a breast pump plus other equipment utilized by a breastfeeding woman is stored.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable bag provided with a primary compartment defined by an internal liner material, as well as one or more secondary compartments each of the secondary compartments defined by an internal liner material. Access to each secondary compartment is provided by a pocket provided on the exterior surface of the portable bag in which an item, such as a breast pump is stored and separated from items included in a primary compartment of the portable bag.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a portable bag including one or more secondary pockets defined by their respective linings completely independent of the lining defining the primary compartment.

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a lightweight, portable, carry-on type of bag provided with a primary compartment and at least one secondary compartment. An item such as, but not limited to a breast pump is stored in the secondary compartment having a zipper or other closure devices allowing access from the outside of the bag to the interior of the secondary compartment. The interior of the primary compartment is provided with a washable lining into which various items are stored, such as breast shields, unfilled bottles, or bottles filled with a liquid such as milk. The secondary compartment is also provided with a lightweight, washable lining. The lining within the secondary compartment is completely independent of the lining provided within the primary compartment. When the item, such as the breast pump is inserted into the secondary compartment the volume of the secondary compartment increases and the volume of the primary compartment decreases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first portable bag according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the portable bag shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of the interior of the portable bag of the present invention provided with a primary compartment and a secondary compartment taken through 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing an item included in the secondary compartment.

FIG. 4 is a view of the interior of the portable bag of the present invention provided with a primary compartment and secondary compartment with the item removed from the secondary compartment shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a portable bag according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the portable bag shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view of the interior of the second embodiment of the portable bag of the present invention provided with a primary compartment and a secondary compartment taken through 7-7 of FIG. 6 showing an item included in the secondary compartment.

FIG. 8 is a view of the interior of the portable bag of the second embodiment of the present invention provided with a primary compartment and a secondary compartment with the item removed from the secondary compartment shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate portable bag, such as a tote bag 10 showing the features of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the tote bag 10 includes side section 12 and a front section 14. Although not shown in the drawings, the bag includes a bottom section, a second side section provided opposite the side section 12, and a back section is provided opposite a front section 14 illustrated in FIG. 1. A first looped handle 16 and a second looped handle 18 are provided for carrying the tote bag 10 from one place to another. Looped handle 16 is affixed to the front section 14 by two straps 20, 22. Strap 20 is secured to the front section 14 by two lines of stitching 24, 26. Looped handle 16 is also attached to the front section 14 by a strap 22 affixed to the front section 14 by two lines of stitching 28, 30. Looped handle 18 is affixed to the opposite backsection in a similar manner, although not shown in drawing.

The tote bag 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 includes a primary compartment 54 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) and a secondary compartment 53 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). A zipper 36, when opened, allows access to the primary compartment 54. When the zipper 36 is closed, flaps 32, 34 extend along the top surface of the tote bag 10 to restrict access into the primary compartment 54. A pocket 38 including a front surface 39 is provided on one of the side sections 12 of the tote bag 10. Although not shown, a second side pocket can be provided on the second side section of the tote bag 10. A zipper 40 is used to open and close the side pocket 38. As shown in FIG. 2 with the zipper 40 opened, the zipper 40 is provided with two rows of teeth 41, 43. Two sliders 42 and 44 are used to open and close the zipper 40. A pull 46 is attached to slider 42 and a pull 48 is attached slider 44 to assist in opening and closing the zipper 40. As can be appreciated, although FIG. 2 illustrates the use of two zippers to open and close the side pocket 38 and thereby allowing or restricting access to the secondary compartment 53, a single slider would suffice to open and close the zipper 40.

FIG. 3 illustrates the secondary compartment 53 provided with an item 50 stored therein. Item 50 could be a breast pump or any other item included within the secondary compartment 53. The secondary compartment 53 is defined by a flexible, waterproof, lightweight internal liner material 52 stitched to the entire inner periphery of the secondary compartment 53, including a portion 51 provided on the rear of the front surface 39, and a portion 57 included on the rear portion 55 of the secondary compartment 53, thereby provided over the entire surface of the secondary compartment 53. Since the internal liner material 52 of the secondary compartment 53 is constructed from a flexible, waterproof material, the surface of the internal liner material 52 can easily be cleaned using a cloth, sponge or the like. When the breast pump 50 or any other item is inserted into the secondary compartment 53, the item 50 causes the rear portion 55 of the internal liner material 52 and the item 50 to occupy a portion of the volume of the primary compartment 54, thereby reducing the volume of the primary compartment 54 and simultaneously increasing the volume of the secondary compartment 53. Similar to the internal liner 52 of the secondary compartment 53, the primary compartment 54 is defined by an internal liner material 56 stitched to and covering the entire interior of the primary compartment 54. The material of the internal liner material 56 is similar to that of the internal liner material 52 of the secondary compartment 53, and can also be easily cleaned by a cloth, sponge or other cleaning material. As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the internal liner material 52 of the secondary compartment 53 is completely independent of the internal liner material 56 of the primary compartment 54, that is there is no portion of the internal liner material 56 connected to the internal liner material 52. Therefore, it would be very easy to reduce the volume of the primary compartment 54 based upon whether a breast pump or other item 50 is inserted into the secondary compartment 53.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate the teachings of the present invention with respect to a portable satchel 60. The satchel 60 includes a front section 62 as well as first side section 64. As can be appreciated, although not shown in the drawings, a back section is provided opposite the front section 62 and a bottom of the satchel is included. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 6, a second side section 63 is provided opposite the first side section 64. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a zipper 84 is shown in the closed position. Opening the zipper 84 would allow access to a primary compartment 114 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 provided in the interior of the satchel 60. The zipper 84 includes a slider 86 used to open and close two rows of teeth 85 of the zipper 84. A pull 87 is used to move the slider 86 in a manner to open and close the rows of teeth 85 of the zipper 84. When the zipper 84 is in the closed position, a flap 82 extends for the entire length of the top of the satchel 60 on one side of the zipper 84. A second flap (not illustrated) extends for the entire length of the top of the satchel 60 on the second side of the zipper 84. A pair of looped handles 70 and 72 is used to transport the satchel 60. Looped handle 70 is affixed to the front surface 62 of the satchel 60 by the use of two pieces of material 78, 80 stitched to the front surface 62 of the satchel 60. D-rings 74 and 76 secure the looped handle 70 to the two pieces of material 78 and 80. A single slider pull 87 is attached to a slider 86 to open and close the zipper 84, allowing and restricting access to the primary compartment 114. It can be appreciated that an additional slider attached to an additional pull tab can be employed to open and close the zipper 84.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, two side pockets 66 and 68 provided on the front surface 62 of the portable satchel 60. The side pocket 66 includes a front surface 69 and the sided pocket 68 includes a front surface 73. Each of the side pockets 66 and 68 allow access to secondary compartments, such as the secondary compartment 112 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The side pocket 66 includes two sliders 100 and 104 used to open and close two rows of teeth 91, 93 of a zipper 88, thereby allowing access to the interior of the secondary compartment 112 associated with the side pocket 66. Pulls 92 and 94 are used to move the sliders 100 and 104 to open and close the zipper 88. A second side pocket 68 is provided with sliders 102 and 103 to open and close a zipper 90 provided with two rows of teethe 95, 97. Pull 96 is attached to the slider 102 and the pull 98 is attached to slider 103 allowing the user to open and close the zipper 90, providing access to the interior of the additional secondary compartment.

FIG. 7 illustrates an item 110 such as the breast pump inserted into one of the secondary compartments 112. As is true with respect to the embodiment illustrated with respect to FIGS. 1-4, the insertion of the breast pump, or any other item into the secondary compartment 112, increases the volume of the secondary compartment, while simultaneously decreasing the volume of the primary compartment 114. Similar to the embodiment illustrated with respect to FIGS. 1-4, an internal liner material 115 is stitched around the entire periphery of the secondary compartment 112 including a portion 71 provided on the rear of the front surface 69 of the side pocket 66, and a portion 113 included on the rear portion 117 of the secondary compartment 112 thereby provided over the entire inner surface of the secondary compartment 112. The internal liner material 115 is constructed from a flexible, lightweight waterproof material, allowing the breast pump or other item 110 to fill a portion of the secondary compartment 112 at the same time reducing the volume of the primary compartment 114. The primary compartment 114 includes a flexible, lightweight, waterproof material internal liner 116 stitched around the entire periphery of the primary compartment 114 thereby provided over the entire inner surface of the primary compartment 114. It is important to note that the internal liner material 116 of the secondary compartment 112 is completely independent of the internal liner material 116 of the primary compartment 114. Similarly, the internal liner material 115 of the secondary compartment associated with the second side pocket 68 is completely independent of the internal liner of the primary compartment 114, as well as the internal liner material 115 of the secondary compartment 112. Similar to the internal liner material 115 of the secondary compartment 112, the internal liner material of the secondary compartment 114 is stitched to the entire periphery of this secondary compartment, thereby provided over the entire inner surface of this secondary compartment

As shown in FIG. 7, when breast pump 110 is inserted into the secondary compartment 115 a portion of the internal liner material 116 is displaced, increasing the volume of the secondary compartment 112 and increasing the volume of the primary compartment 114. Additionally, if an item is placed in the secondary compartment 112 associated with the side pocket 68, the volume of that secondary compartment 112 would increase, and the volume of the primary compartment 114 would decrease in a manner similar to what is shown in FIG. 7. Removal of an item from any of the secondary compartments would allow additional items to be included within the primary compartment 114.

In both embodiments, prior to any items being inserted into the primary compartments, each primary compartment exhibits a first initial volume, and each secondary compartment exhibits a second initial volume generally less than the first initial volume of the primary compartment. When an item is placed in the secondary compartment, the second initial volume of the secondary compartment increases to a third volume, and the initial first volume of the primary compartment decreases to a fourth volume.

While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the present invention was described with respect to a portable toe bag or satchel, other types of bags, such as a backpack can be utilized. 

1. A device for storing items therein, comprising: a bag provided with an interior, an exterior, a front section, a back section, side sections, a bottom section and a top section: a primary compartment defined by a first liner material included in said interior of said bag, said primary compartment having an inner surface and a first initial volume; a first closure allowing or restricting access to said primary compartment; a first secondary compartment defined by a second liner material included in said interior of said bag, said first secondary compartment having an inner surface and an initial second volume, said second internal liner material independent of said first liner material; a second closure allowing or restricting access to said first secondary compartment; wherein, when an item is stored within said first secondary compartment, said second initial volume increases to a third volume and said first initial volume simultaneously decreases to a fourth volume.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first closure is a zipper provided on top section and said second closure is a zipper provided on said front section
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first closure is a zipper provided on said top section and said second closure is a zipper provided on one of said side sections. 